What’s involvedGarbage disposal
Replace a garbage disposal (what's involved)
When a disposal is done, what swapping it involves, what a plumber does, what to have ready, and why a hard-wired one also needs an electrician.
- 5 to 10 min
- 6 parts
- Every step animated
What’s involved
No hands-on steps here: what the job is, what a pro does, and what to have ready.
A humming or stuck disposal may only need freeing or its reset button pressed. A cracked, rusted or leaking body means it's time to replace it.
A leaking disposal: unplug it or switch it off at the wall, set a pan under it, and don't run water down that side.
Look under the sink. A cord to an outlet means it plugs in. A cable straight into the disposal means it's wired in, and that part is an electrician's.
They switch off its power, take off the drain pipe and the dishwasher hose, twist the old unit off its mount, fit the new one and test for leaks.
Clear the cabinet, and take photos of the disposal's label, the pipes and the outlet or cable.
Ask Handyman for a plumber to replace it, and an electrician too if it's wired in. Until then, use the other side of the sink.
What you need
- A clear cabinet under the sink
- Photos of the label, the pipes and the outlet
Call a pro if
- The disposal's body is cracked, rusted or leaking
- It hums and won't turn after a reset
- It's wired in rather than plugged in
Handyman says: I'll find a plumber to swap it.
Free for every home. Handyman asks a few questions, then books a pro it trusts.
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